ENGINEERING'S HEINICKE WINS PAYTON, FCS' HEISMAN TROPHY

Engineering student Taylor Heinicke capped a record-breaking season in which he became the most prolific passer in the history of the Football Championship Subdivision by winning the Walter Payton Award.

Surrounded by family and friends from his hometown of Atlanta, and an entourage of ODU officials, Heinicke accepted the award at annual The Sports Network FCSbanquet.

As Heinicke strode to the podium at the Sheraton Society Hill, the theme from the movie "Rocky" blared through loudspeakers and several hundred spectators gave the quarterback a standing ovation.

Heinicke claimed 72 of 145 votes from sports information directors and journalists and 531 total points. Stony Brook running back Miguel Maysonet was a distant second with 13 first-place votes and 284 points. Wofford fullback Eric Breitenstein was third with 197.

"Other than the national championship, there's not a better award you could win," Heinicke said. "It's a huge honor and I'm very humbled.

"I'm speechless. I'm so happy right now. I'm so excited that it's ridiculous. I can't even put it into words what I'm feeling."